Wednesday: For Prisoners, the Timid and Anxious

[Intention: For prisoners; the timid and anxious.]

J| In the name of the Father, and of the

Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Our Father. Hail Mary. I believe.

f. 0 God, come to my assistance. B/. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Alleluia.

Ant. God hath commanded His angels concerning thee to keep thee in all thy ways.

Ps. lxxiii.

Ut quid, Deus.

OGOD, why hast Thou cast us off unto the end: why is Thy wrath enkindled against the sheep of Thy pasture?

Remember Thy congregation, which Thou hast possessed from the beginning.

The sceptre of Thy inheritance which Thou hast redeemed: mount Sion, in which Thou hast dwelt.

Lift up Thy hands against their pride unto the end; see what things the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.

And they that hate Thee have made their boasts, in the midst of Thy solemnity.

They have set up their ensigns for signs: and they knew not both in the going out and on the highest top.

As with axes in a wood of trees, they have cut down at once the gates thereof, with axe and hatchet they have brought it down.

They have set fire to Thy sanctuary: they have defiled the dwelling place of Thy name on the earth.

They said in their heart, the whole kindred of them together: Let us abolish all the festival days of God from the land.

Our signs we have not seen, there is now no prophet: and He will know us no more.

How long, 0 God, shall the enemy reproach: is the adversary to provoke Thy name for ever?

Why dost Thou turn away Thy hand: and Thy right hand out of the midst of Thy bosom for ever?

But God is our King before ages: He hath wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.

Thou by Thy strength didst make the sea firm: Thou didst crush the heads of the dragons in the waters.

Thou hast broken the heads of the dragon: Thou hast given him to be meat for the people of the Ethiopians.

Thou hast broken up the fountains and the torrents: Thou hast dried up the Ethan rivers.

Thine is the day, and Thine is the night: Thou hast made the morning light and the sun.

Thou hast made all the borders of the earth: the summer and the spring were formed by Thee.

Remember this, the enemy hath reproached the Lord: and a foolish people hath provoked Thy name.

Deliver not up to beasts the souls that confess to Thee: and forget not to the end the souls of Thy poor.

Have regard to Thy covenant: for they that are the obscure of the earth have been filled with dwellings of iniquity.

Let not the humble be turned away with confusion: the poor and needy shall praise Thy name.

Arise, O God, judge Thy own cause: remember Thy reproaches with which the foolish man hath reproached Thee all the day.

Forget not the voices of Thy enemies: the pride of them that hate Thee ascendeth continually.

Glory be.

Ant God hath commanded His angels concerning thee to keep thee in all thy ways.

The Chapter. I Peter i. 3-9; iv. 12-19

BLESSED be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy hath regenerated us unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that cannot fade, reserved in heaven for you,

Who, by the power of God, are kept by faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Wherein you shall greatly rejoice, if now you must be for a little time made sorrowful in divers temptations:

That the trial of your faith much more precious than gold (which is tried by the fire) may be found unto praise and glory and honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

Whom having not seen, you love: in whom also now, though you see Him not, you believe: and believing shall rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorified,

Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Dearly beloved, think not strange the burning heat which is to try you, as if some new thing happened to you:

But if you partake of the suffering of Christ, rejoice that when His glory shall be revealed you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

If you be reproached for the name of Christ, you shall be blessed: for that which is of the honour, glory and power of God, and that which is His Spirit, resteth upon you.

But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or a railer, or a coveter of other men's things.

But if as a christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this name,

For the time is that judgement should begin at the house of God. And if first at us, what shall be the end of them that believe not the gospel of God?

And if the just man shall scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God, commend their souls in good deeds to the faithful Creator.

ly. Thanks be to God. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Our Father.

f. Save Thy servants.

Bj. Who hope in Thee, O my God.

f. Be unto them, O Lord, a tower of strength. B7. From the face of the enemy. y. Let not the enemy prevail against them. 37. Nor the son of iniquity approach to hurt them. y. O Lord, deal not with us according to our sins. 37. Neither requite us according to our iniquities. y. Let us pray for our Sovereign Pontiff

Benedict. 37. The Lord preserve him and give him life, and make him blessed upon earth; and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies. y. Let us pray for our benefactors. 37. Vouchsafe, O Lord, for Thy name's sake, to reward with eternal life all them that do us good. Amen. y. Let us pray for the faithful departed. 37. Eternal rest give to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. y. May they rest in peace. 37. Amen.

y. For our absent brethren. 37. Save thy servants who hope in Thee,

O my God.

f. Send them help, O Lord, from the sanctuary. bj. And defend them out of Sion. f. O Lord, hear my prayer. 37. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray

Almighty and everlasting God, the comfort of the sad, the strength of sufferers, let the prayers of those that cry out of any tribulation come unto Thee; that all may rejoice to find that Thy mercy is present with them in their afflictions.

Give fortitude, O Lord, to all who are afraid, and confidence to those who have no trust; that, sustained by the knowledge of Thine unfailing power, they may adore always the Majesty of Thy Fatherly will and loving kindness. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For prisoners and afflicted.

For timid and anxious.

For our soldiers and sailors.

For victtory.

Let us pray.

O God, who to Thy servant Tobias didst give Raphael the archangel as a companion in the way; grant to Thy servants that they may always be protected by his guardianship and fortified by his aid.

Almighty and Everlasting God, look mercifully upon our weakness, and stretch forth the right hand of Thy Majesty to be our defence.

Break in pieces, O Lord, the strong pride of those who have exalted themselves against Thee, and bring down to the humble ashes of penance those who have sinned against Thy children, that their iniquities being done away through Thy mercy, they may praise always Thine eternal justice.

Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

f. O Lord, hear my prayer.

37. And let my cry come unto Thee.

y. May the Almighty and merciful Lord graciously hear us.

37. Amen.

y. And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R7. Amen.